I’ve got a few different autos growing nicely in my backyard. Trying to stay as organic as possible. I’ve been using Neem oil, pyrethrum and something called “dead bug” at least once a week . Rather than reinvent the wheel, what have you found to be most effective? It’s a constant war. Also, can I combine several pesticides in one sprayer and save some work? After a problem with bud rot last year ( late season cool with rain zone 6 ) , thought I’d give some autos a try. Pleased to see lots of healthy flowers so early in the season! Thanks
Neem kills bugs idk about that other one. imo nothing is 100% outdoors. All you can do is kill and prevent up until you can't anymore because of buds. Personally I use dr. Bonner's peppermint soap heavily at 1 to 2 tbls a gallon of water, every 3 to 4 days through veg. The peppermint is a pest deterrent the soap will kill insects if smothered with it.
The active ingredient in Capt'n Jack's Dead Bug Brew is a natural bacteria called Spinosad. THe bug must injest the bacteria to be effective. If you mix Dead Bug with other pesticides, you will likely kill the beneficial bacteria. You might be better off alternating your IPM products.
Ive used neem oil for years does bugs and molds real good, 1/2 tsp to a pint of warm water shake well good luck
Beauveria Bassiana: It is a fungus that will grow on bugs and kill them rather rapidely. It is completely harmless for you and your plants.
Any surfactants (soap) will be at least somewhat effective. If you spray pure water on plants it beads up. If you spray soapy water on plants it will fully cover the surface area, bugs included. So simple soapy water is an effective insecticide because it will drown many bugs. Adding essential oils to the soapy water can make it even more effective. Cedar wood, neem, and Peppermint are 3 effective oils. I am also growing outdoors. I got a small spider mite infestation on a few plants and cleared it up with some cedarwood and Peppermint oil mixed with water and surfactants. Applied it a few times until they were gone and haven't applied since. It has effectively cleared several other pest problems from my veggie garden. I caught an aphid infestation on a tomato plant very early and just used a hose to spray them off to effectively remove them. I'm not sure I understand why you apply insecticide every week if you don't have a problem.
Biothrine Flow. A low toxicity synthetic pyrethrum. Only in veg though. It persists on the leaves for months.